Neuroblastoma is a cancer that primarily affects children. It begins in nerve tissue in the neck, chest, abdomen, or pelvis. It usually originates in the abdomen in the tissues of the adrenal gland. By the time it is diagnosed, the cancer often has spread, most commonly to the lymph nodes, liver, lungs, bones, and/or bone marrow.

Risk of neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is the most common type of cancer in infants. The number of new cases of neuroblastoma is greatest among children under 1 year of age and decreases rapidly with age. Males are affected slightly more commonly than females.

Anything that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease is called a risk factor. The risk factors for neuroblastoma have not yet been established.

Screening tests for neuroblastoma

Urine samples can be tested for the presence of specific chemicals that are excreted by most patients with neuroblastoma. Most cases of neuroblastoma are diagnosed before 6 months of age.

It is thought that many neuroblastomas are present and detectable at birth. Studies have suggested devising a once-in-a-lifetime screening test, such as those used for screening newborns for noncancerous conditions, such as phenylketonuria. At this time, however, there is no good scientific evidence showing that screening for neuroblastoma leads to a decrease in deaths from the disease.